Method for selecting a wireless service provider in a multi-service provider environment using a geographic database

Abstract

A communication device locates a wireless service provider in a multi-service provider environment by tuning to a first frequency band and receiving a geographic identifier from the service provider operating in the first frequency band. The received geographic identifier is compared to a listing of stored geographic identifiers in order to attempt to locate a matching stored geographic identifier. Each of the stored geographic identifiers are associated with a desirable frequency band having a desirable service provider. If comparing the received geographic identifier with the matching stored geographic identifiers does not produce a match, frequency bands are examined until a second frequency band having a desirable service provider is located. The listing of stored geographic identifiers is then updated so that the second frequency band is associated with the received geographic identifier.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method by which a communication device locates a wireless service provider in a multi-service provider environment, comprising the steps of: tuning to a first frequency band;   receiving a received geographic identifier from a service provider in the first frequency band;   comparing the received geographic identifier to a listing of stored geographic identifiers to attempt locate a matching stored geographic identifier, each of the stored geographic identifiers being associated with a desirable frequency band having a desirable service provider;   examining additional frequency bands according to a frequency band search schedule until a second frequency band having the desirable service provider is located, the examination being carried out if the step of comparing the received geographic identifier does not locate a matching stored geographic identifier; and   modifying the listing of stored geographic identifiers so that the second frequency band is associated with the received geographic identifier, after the step of examining additional frequency bands.   
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving the received geographic identifier comprises receiving a system identifier code from a wireless service provider. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of modifying the listing of stored geographic identifiers using information transmitted over a wireless interface. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of modifying the listing of stored geographic identifiers using information from a keypad. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of modifying the frequency band search schedule. 
     
     
       6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of modifying the frequency band search schedule comprises the step of using information transmitted over a wireless interface. 
     
     
       7. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of modifying the frequency band search schedule comprises the step of using information from a keypad.